LENOIR, N.C. – Grassroots Appalachia, a new brick-and-mortar Appalachian Fair Trade Arts & Crafts Gallery and community gathering space in Lenoir, is opening tonight.
This opening exhibit and related activities, “An Exploration: Creating Conditions for Community Life,” begins with a reception at 6:30 p.m. It runs from today through Thursday, Aug. 20. The exhibit will remain open to the public until Saturday, September 5.
The intent of this exhibit is to inspire you to identify the conditions you consider favorable for community life in Caldwell County and then join with your neighbors to help create it.
On Wednesday, one way we’ll consider that is the question posed by one of our teachers, Gretchen Griffith, about fly tying: Is it an art or a sport? A fair question, it illustrates that there are any number of ways to identify the conditions we find favorable for community life.
First though, we begin that discussion with this evening’s art exhibit. It considers people and places from the past through the storytelling brush strokes of Fred Boger (1857-1936), a painter of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Boger was an itinerant artist. People and places across the United States were the inspiration of his art. There is no better way to consider the “Conditions Favorable for Community Life” than through the eyes of an itinerant artist, who made a living intentionally wandering the land. About 7:15, we are going to take a few moments to explain our purpose and plans. After that, we will consider the question, “What are the conditions favorable for the community we desire?”
Then tomorrow at 2 p.m. Griffith will be teaching a Fly Tying mini lesson and discussing her book, “Southern Fly Tyers.” She will be joined with special guests David Anders and James Henson.
First though, at 11 a.m., Karin Davidson will be weaving, teaching and giving others an opportunity to have hands-on experience. The results will be a community tapestry.
At 6:30 p.m. Amber Shoemake will be teaching the use of mixed media, with participants leaving with a personal art piece as well as further knowledge about the beauty of flowers.
On Thursday, Aug. 20 the focus on Caldwell County authors and books from 11 a.m. to 8:30 p.m.
Finally, throughout the week, visitors will have an opportunity to purchase art, crafts, books and Our State magazine in our fair trade “store.”
About Grassroots Appalachia
We believe Appalachia’s greatest resource is her people. Helping to create conditions favorable for community life is why Grassroots Appalachia exists. We work to connect and cultivate Appalachian people and traditions in Lenoir and beyond. We are located at 458-B Harper Avenue in Lenoir, N.C. Find us on the web.
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© Michael M. Barrick, 2026
Appalachian Chronicle 